St. Cloud State inks eight players for 2017-18 season
1/2/2017 3:18:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Four forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender set to join Huskies in the fall
ST. CLOUD—Eight players have signed national letters of intent to play for the St. Cloud State women's hockey team during the early signing period, head coach Eric Rud and his staff announced on Monday. The group will join the Huskies in the fall for the 2017-18 season.
The signing class includes forwards Emma Bigham, Laura Kluge, Aubrey Pritchett and Megan Roe; defensemen Hannah Bates, Tatum Coats and Kenzie Wylie; and goaltender Emma Polusny.
Emma Polusny (Mound, Minn.)
Position: Goaltender
Height: 5'9
Catches: Left
Current Team: Mound-Westonka High School
Polusny has manned the crease at Mound-Westonka High School since she was an eighth grader and is a four-time all-conference honoree and was an all-state honorable mention in 2016. Through the first 13 games of her senior season, Polusny has logged a 1.65 goals-against average, a .943 save percentage and one shutout.
"Emma is a very athletic goaltender that has a very calming presence in the net," Rud said. "She has had success everywhere she has been and we are thrilled to have her on board."
Polusny, who boasts sterling .930 career save percentage in high school, led the Whitehawks to the 2013 Minnesota Class A state tournament, where they reached the finals in the consolation bracket and she was named to the Class A All-Tournament team.
She also backstopped the Minnesota Elite Grey team to a runner-up finish at the USA Hockey Girls Tier I U16 National Championships in 2016.
Why St. Cloud State: "St. Cloud State University has great facilities and an even better coaching staff and they offer a great opportunity for me to further myself on and off the ice."
Laura Kluge (Berlin, Germany)
Position: Forward
Height: 5'10
Shoots: Left
Current Team: Linköping HC
The 20-year-old Kluge currently plies her trade for Linköping HC in Sweden, where she has five goals and 13 points in 24 games. Prior to this season, Kluge suited up for OSC Eisladies Berlin in Germany, where she racked up 32 goals and 63 points in 56 games over the last three seasons.
"Laura has great size and speed," Rud said. "She brings a track record of scoring and we are excited to add her to our group of forwards."
Kluge brings significant international experience to the Huskies as well, having represented Germany in three U-18 World Junior Championships and two World Championships. Most recently, she led the Germans to a Group A first place finish at the 2016 IIHF Women's Division I World Championships. Kluge paced all players with six goals in the tournament and tied for the points lead with nine en route to being named Best Forward.
Biggest Influences: "My coaches at Eisbären Juniors Berlin, Hardy and Andreas Gensel. They taught me how to skate, shoot and how to love and play the game."
Emma Bigham (Minnetonka, Minn.)
Position: Forward
Height: 5'5
Shoots: Left
Current Team: Minnetonka High School
A four-year varsity player at Minnetonka High School, Bigham totaled 45 goals and 78 points in 84 games through her first three seasons. Currently in the midst of her senior campaign, the Skippers captain has a team-leading nine goals, eight assists and 17 points in the season's first 13 games.
"Emma brings speed, strength and tenacity," Rud said. "She has a very hard shot and is very hard to play against."
As a sophomore, Bigham helped lead Minnetonka to a runner-up finish at the 2015 Minnesota Class AA State Tournament. She recorded five goals and six points in the postseason—including three goals and four points in the state tournament to earn Class AA All-Tournament honors.
Biggest Influences: "My dad because he got me into hockey and would take time away from his day to practice with me and was always my biggest supporter."
Megan Roe (Woodhaven, Mich.)
Position: Forward
Height: 5'10
Shoots: Right
Current Team: Belle Tire 19U
Roe is joining St. Cloud State from the Belle Tire 19U program in Detroit, where the captain has 10 goals and 24 points in 37 games this season. Last year, she tallied 33 goals and 74 points in 69 games with Little Caesars 16U as part of a MAHA Girls Tier I 16U state title-winning team. Roe is a three-time state champion—winning 16U titles in 2016 and 2015 and a 14U title in 2014 with Little Caesars.
"She is a strong and powerful winger who can get up and down the ice," Rud said. "We believe Megan will help us in many different ways."
Internationally, Roe helped the West Coast Selects capture three-straight World Selects Invitational championships in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Why St. Cloud State: "St. Cloud has been my first choice for a long time. The coaching staff and team are great and the university itself is everything I'm looking for in a school."
Aubrey Pritchett (Orange, Calif.)
Position: Forward
Height: 5'2
Shoots: Right
Current Team: California Wave 19AAA
Pritchett is in her first season with the California Wave 19AAA team after three seasons with the 16AAA program. With the 16AAA team, Pritchett qualified for USA Hockey Girls Tier I U16 Nationals in three-straight seasons between 2014 and 2016.
"Aubrey is a very fast, tenacious forward that should help us in a lot of different ways," Rud said. "Her speed is a strength of her game and should help us on the Olympic sheet."
Pritchett also played boys hockey for Villa Park High School in the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey league, most recently totaling two goals and five points in eight games during the 2015-16 season.
Why St. Cloud State: "I absolutely loved the area and the minute I stepped on campus I had no doubt this felt like a second home to me."
Kenzie Wylie (Ham Lake, Minn.)
Position: Defensemen
Height: 5'5
Shoots: Left
Current Team: Blaine High School
Wylie will come to St. Cloud after four years playing for Blaine High School. The Bengals' two-year captain has three goals and 12 points in 11 games this season. She has totaled 11 goals and 49 points in 99 games in her high school career
"Kenzie is a smooth skater and an excellent defender," Rud said. "We believe her offensive potential is just beginning to come through and we are excited to work with her."
Wylie helped Blaine qualify for the 2015 Minnesota Class AA state tournament, where the Bengals won the consolation championship. Wylie is also a former all-conference selection.
Biggest Influences: "My dad. He has been a coach and fan my whole life. He has pushed me on and off the ice to help me become the player I am and reach my full potential."
Tatum Coats (Lakewood, Calif.)
Position: Defenseman
Height: 5'3
Shoots: Right
Current Team: California Wave 19AAA
Coats is in her first season with the California Wave 19AAA program after two seasons with the Lady Ducks 19UAAA program. With the Lady Ducks, Coats notched 10 goals and 30 points and competed at USA Hockey Tier I 19U Nationals in 2015 and 2016.
"Tatum is a tough and tenacious defender who is very strong on the puck," Rud said. "She will bring grittiness to our defensive core."
Coats attended national camps in both 2014 and 2015.
Why St. Cloud State: "I chose St. Cloud because I automatically felt welcomed. After that I knew I wanted to have the chance to be a Husky."
Hannah Bates (Trenton, Mich.)
Position: Defenseman
Height: 5'4
Shoots: Right
Current Team: Belle Tire 19U
After two seasons co-captaining the Little Caesars 16U team, Bates is also playing this season with the Belle Tire 19U team in Detroit. Through 35 games, the assistant captain boasts seven goals and 16 points.
"Hannah is very good all-around defenseman who can chip in in many different ways," Rud said. "She skates well, has good hockey sense and we expect her to help our defensive core."
Prior to joining Belle Tire, Bates led Little Caesars to back-to-back Michigan Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA) Girls Tier I 16U state titles in 2015 and 2016. During those two seasons, she recorded totals of 29 goals and 71 points in 132 games.
At the international level, Bates won three-straight World Selects Invitational tournaments with the West Coast Selects in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Why St. Cloud State: "I will be able to go to a school that has everything I'm looking for in addition to a solid hockey program with a great team and coaches."
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The signing class includes forwards Emma Bigham, Laura Kluge, Aubrey Pritchett and Megan Roe; defensemen Hannah Bates, Tatum Coats and Kenzie Wylie; and goaltender Emma Polusny.
Emma Polusny (Mound, Minn.)
Position: GoaltenderHeight: 5'9
Catches: Left
Current Team: Mound-Westonka High School
Polusny has manned the crease at Mound-Westonka High School since she was an eighth grader and is a four-time all-conference honoree and was an all-state honorable mention in 2016. Through the first 13 games of her senior season, Polusny has logged a 1.65 goals-against average, a .943 save percentage and one shutout.
"Emma is a very athletic goaltender that has a very calming presence in the net," Rud said. "She has had success everywhere she has been and we are thrilled to have her on board."
Polusny, who boasts sterling .930 career save percentage in high school, led the Whitehawks to the 2013 Minnesota Class A state tournament, where they reached the finals in the consolation bracket and she was named to the Class A All-Tournament team.
She also backstopped the Minnesota Elite Grey team to a runner-up finish at the USA Hockey Girls Tier I U16 National Championships in 2016.
Why St. Cloud State: "St. Cloud State University has great facilities and an even better coaching staff and they offer a great opportunity for me to further myself on and off the ice."
Laura Kluge (Berlin, Germany)
Position: ForwardHeight: 5'10
Shoots: Left
Current Team: Linköping HC
The 20-year-old Kluge currently plies her trade for Linköping HC in Sweden, where she has five goals and 13 points in 24 games. Prior to this season, Kluge suited up for OSC Eisladies Berlin in Germany, where she racked up 32 goals and 63 points in 56 games over the last three seasons.
"Laura has great size and speed," Rud said. "She brings a track record of scoring and we are excited to add her to our group of forwards."
Kluge brings significant international experience to the Huskies as well, having represented Germany in three U-18 World Junior Championships and two World Championships. Most recently, she led the Germans to a Group A first place finish at the 2016 IIHF Women's Division I World Championships. Kluge paced all players with six goals in the tournament and tied for the points lead with nine en route to being named Best Forward.
Biggest Influences: "My coaches at Eisbären Juniors Berlin, Hardy and Andreas Gensel. They taught me how to skate, shoot and how to love and play the game."
Emma Bigham (Minnetonka, Minn.)
Position: ForwardHeight: 5'5
Shoots: Left
Current Team: Minnetonka High School
A four-year varsity player at Minnetonka High School, Bigham totaled 45 goals and 78 points in 84 games through her first three seasons. Currently in the midst of her senior campaign, the Skippers captain has a team-leading nine goals, eight assists and 17 points in the season's first 13 games.
"Emma brings speed, strength and tenacity," Rud said. "She has a very hard shot and is very hard to play against."
As a sophomore, Bigham helped lead Minnetonka to a runner-up finish at the 2015 Minnesota Class AA State Tournament. She recorded five goals and six points in the postseason—including three goals and four points in the state tournament to earn Class AA All-Tournament honors.
Biggest Influences: "My dad because he got me into hockey and would take time away from his day to practice with me and was always my biggest supporter."
Megan Roe (Woodhaven, Mich.)
Position: ForwardHeight: 5'10
Shoots: Right
Current Team: Belle Tire 19U
Roe is joining St. Cloud State from the Belle Tire 19U program in Detroit, where the captain has 10 goals and 24 points in 37 games this season. Last year, she tallied 33 goals and 74 points in 69 games with Little Caesars 16U as part of a MAHA Girls Tier I 16U state title-winning team. Roe is a three-time state champion—winning 16U titles in 2016 and 2015 and a 14U title in 2014 with Little Caesars.
"She is a strong and powerful winger who can get up and down the ice," Rud said. "We believe Megan will help us in many different ways."
Internationally, Roe helped the West Coast Selects capture three-straight World Selects Invitational championships in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Why St. Cloud State: "St. Cloud has been my first choice for a long time. The coaching staff and team are great and the university itself is everything I'm looking for in a school."
Aubrey Pritchett (Orange, Calif.)
Height: 5'2
Shoots: Right
Current Team: California Wave 19AAA
Pritchett is in her first season with the California Wave 19AAA team after three seasons with the 16AAA program. With the 16AAA team, Pritchett qualified for USA Hockey Girls Tier I U16 Nationals in three-straight seasons between 2014 and 2016.
"Aubrey is a very fast, tenacious forward that should help us in a lot of different ways," Rud said. "Her speed is a strength of her game and should help us on the Olympic sheet."
Pritchett also played boys hockey for Villa Park High School in the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey league, most recently totaling two goals and five points in eight games during the 2015-16 season.
Why St. Cloud State: "I absolutely loved the area and the minute I stepped on campus I had no doubt this felt like a second home to me."
Kenzie Wylie (Ham Lake, Minn.)
Position: DefensemenHeight: 5'5
Shoots: Left
Current Team: Blaine High School
Wylie will come to St. Cloud after four years playing for Blaine High School. The Bengals' two-year captain has three goals and 12 points in 11 games this season. She has totaled 11 goals and 49 points in 99 games in her high school career
"Kenzie is a smooth skater and an excellent defender," Rud said. "We believe her offensive potential is just beginning to come through and we are excited to work with her."
Wylie helped Blaine qualify for the 2015 Minnesota Class AA state tournament, where the Bengals won the consolation championship. Wylie is also a former all-conference selection.
Biggest Influences: "My dad. He has been a coach and fan my whole life. He has pushed me on and off the ice to help me become the player I am and reach my full potential."
Tatum Coats (Lakewood, Calif.)
Position: DefensemanHeight: 5'3
Shoots: Right
Current Team: California Wave 19AAA
Coats is in her first season with the California Wave 19AAA program after two seasons with the Lady Ducks 19UAAA program. With the Lady Ducks, Coats notched 10 goals and 30 points and competed at USA Hockey Tier I 19U Nationals in 2015 and 2016.
"Tatum is a tough and tenacious defender who is very strong on the puck," Rud said. "She will bring grittiness to our defensive core."
Coats attended national camps in both 2014 and 2015.
Why St. Cloud State: "I chose St. Cloud because I automatically felt welcomed. After that I knew I wanted to have the chance to be a Husky."
Hannah Bates (Trenton, Mich.)
Position: DefensemanHeight: 5'4
Shoots: Right
Current Team: Belle Tire 19U
After two seasons co-captaining the Little Caesars 16U team, Bates is also playing this season with the Belle Tire 19U team in Detroit. Through 35 games, the assistant captain boasts seven goals and 16 points.
"Hannah is very good all-around defenseman who can chip in in many different ways," Rud said. "She skates well, has good hockey sense and we expect her to help our defensive core."
Prior to joining Belle Tire, Bates led Little Caesars to back-to-back Michigan Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA) Girls Tier I 16U state titles in 2015 and 2016. During those two seasons, she recorded totals of 29 goals and 71 points in 132 games.
At the international level, Bates won three-straight World Selects Invitational tournaments with the West Coast Selects in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Why St. Cloud State: "I will be able to go to a school that has everything I'm looking for in addition to a solid hockey program with a great team and coaches."
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